A Mythic Iceland Scenario. A Cold Death is set in North Iceland, in the year 990, during the Pagan Commonwealth period of the country’s history.

Six warriors return to their home valley after two years on the longships. They find that the old goði (chieftain-priest) has been replaced by one of his followers, and that the valley where their farms are located is in the grip of an early and supernatural winter.

They near their home valley, laden with the loot of their years raiding. Their dragon ship is in the fjord, far behind them. The ship belongs to their goði Einar, sponsor of the expedition. Before they go to their own farms, they must journey first to Einar’s farm at the end of the valley—to give him his share of the loot, and to tell him about the death of his son.